SPOONBILL 



WHITE SPOONBILL. 



PLATE CLXIII. FIGURE II. 



Platalea leucorodia, . . . PENNANT. MONTAGU. 

 Platalca nivea, .... CUVIER. 



THE nest of this bird, also a rare straggler to Britain, 

 is made in a tree, if one be situated conveniently for 

 the purpose, on the branches of willows, or among rushes 

 and weeds in water, or on the ground. It is put together 

 of reeds, twigs, and rushes, and lined, if at all, with finer 

 portions of the same ; the former materials are made use of 

 if it be placed in a tree. Several nests are built together 

 when trees suitable for the purpose are in sufficient number. 

 The eggs, laid in April or early in May, are four or five 

 in number. They are rough in texture, white, spotted with 

 pale reddish brown ; some are without the red spots. 



